Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Book Review: "Lover At Last" by J.R. Ward (Guest Reviewer Paul)

Lover At Last(Black Dagger Brotherhood, #11)By J.R. WardSynopsis:

Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

It is always exciting when one of your top authors has a new book out, and when it became known that it was Qhuinn and Blay's book it just had to be read. I can relate to Qhuinn in some ways; I have tattoos, dress unlike other guys (I wear a fedora whenever possible), have hardly ever felt like I belonged anywhere, and I am a rocker/metalhead.

As I was reading J.R. Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I figured it was only a matter of time before Qhuinn and Blay got together. People should be able to love who they love, period. If anyone had ever tried to tell me that I could not love and be with my wife, I would have told that person that the very hot place with the very red dude with horns and a pitchfork impatiently awaits their arrival. While I do not think there was quite enough of Blay and Qhuinn's story in this book, I will say that what was in there was very steamy, and J. R. Ward did an awesome job of conveying their emotions through it all. I won't lie, MM is not typically my genre, but once again love is love. I was glad to see that they ended up together and would both finally be happy and complete.

In regards to some of the side stories going on, I have mixed emotions. It was awesome for me to read that Qhuinn was relieved of his 'ahstrux nohtrum' duties to John Matthew to receive an even bigger (huge, in fact) honor! You really feel that he deserves anything and everything good that comes to him. However, I did not really feel the thing with Sola and Assail (you will see) so much, and I was expecting to read a lot more about the Brothers fighting the Lessers than there actually was. It was good, though, that Qhuinn's brother Luchas was given a comeback - albeit a very brutal one; it made me feel like maybe one day he will be made a Brother, too?

I was kind of disappointed with the abruptness of the ending of this book. I did like that Blay and Qhuinn got their wedding day with all of the Brothers and their family present and fully supporting them though. That was a very cool touch.

I am completely convinced of another thing, as well: I need to be made a Brother of the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Those guys are awesome. How could you go wrong? You are a good-guy vampire with unlimited financial resources, provided with the best firepower and finest handmade daggers, and you live in a mansion with the love of your life in an environment of unconditional respect, love, and acceptance. Were it not for the fact that I have most of that already, (minus the mansion and unlimited cash), I would simply ask J. R. Ward "Where do I sign up, and when do I get to hang out with Wrath, Butch, and Qhuinn?"

My bottom line? Read this book; you may learn a thing or two. People need to start focusing more on love and less on hate and ignorance, and I think this book contributes to that cause and does it well. For all of the aforementioned reasons I give this book 3.5 of 5 stars.

1 comment:

Viviana, you are a lucky lady! A man who shares your passions and who totally loves you, he is a keeper!

Paul, I totally agree with you on the fact that there wasn't a lot of scenes with Qhuinn and Blay. I kinda felt that they were overshadowed a bit by the Assail/Sola business. I mean, Assail is okay but it just felt like every time I encountered a new chapter, I was like "Assail, again??" There are so many loose ends in this story that I can't wait for the next book, entitled The King, coming out next year.

The Trez side story was a little disturbing. He was always so calm and level-headed in previous books, but to see him undone and the problems he's facing, it will be interesting to watch how it unfolds.

And I have to admit, even though Xcor is truly a bastard, in more than one sense, I am loving how meeting Layla has changed his heart a little bit. I know he is still planning his massive coup to de-thrown Wrath, but I am wishing there was a way that he and Layla could get together soon. I was totally crying at the end when they were in the car together and the way Xcor was with her. I can't wait to find out what will happen next!!

Thanks for sharing your review. It was super cool to get a man's POV of the books.